Detachable handle for dishes



April 13, 1937. $ER|Q 2,077,273

DETACHABLE HANDLE FOR DISHES Filed March 50, 1936 Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNl TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

2,077,273 v DETACHABLE HANDLE FOR DISHES Harry P. Serio, Elmira, N. Y. Application March 30, 1936, Serial No. 71,746

. 8' Claims.

The present invention relates generally to lifters for handling plates, dishes, pans and the like and more particularly to a detachable handle having for its primary object the promotion of strength and durability in a simple inexpensive device which, when attached, is adapted to remain so until purposely removed, and which exerts a. direct clamping action through minimum effort.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a handle or like implement, theclamping action of which is brought about through the use of a lever-actuated movable gripping jaw and in which the lever for clamping and releas- 15 ing the jaw acts in the clamped position of the parts as a brace for the handle portion of the implement and in which the connection between the parts is such that the lever remains in the clamped and bracing position until purposely displaced preparatory to its removal from the article clamped thereby.

These and other objects of the invention will be better understood and more thoroughly appreciated in the course of the following detailed description, outlining the best mode so far devised for carrying the invention into practice.

In the drawing: I

Figure l is a top plan view illustrating the practical application of the invention in use.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view with the parts in open or released position.

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side view of the complete im- 35 plement.

Figure 5 is a detail top plan view of the movable jaw.

Figure 6 is a side view thereof, and

Figure '7 is a detail bottom plan view of the 40 lever.

Referring now to these figures it will be seen by particular reference to Figures 1 and 3 that the implement is shown as primarily intended as a detachable handle for dishes and the like A, more especially one having an integral lip 41. projecting horizontally or at a slight angle to the horizontal from the perimeter or edge of the dish and provided with a rib a across its lower surface.

The rigid uppermost jaw 50 of the implement is, as shown, in the nature of a flat plate adapted in the eifective position to rest upon the upper surface of the lip a of the dish, this flat rigid jaw having downturned side flanges H whose "55 forward ends are extended and cut away as at H to conform to the contour of the external surface of the dish at opposite sides of, and below, the lip a, when the rigid jaw rests on the The rigid jaw I0 is formed integral with and at one end of an elongated handle portion l3 which at its opposite end may be provided with an upstanding rib or wing l4 forming a rigid thumb engaging member for a purpose presently to be described.

The movable jaw l5 opposes the lower surface of the rigid jaw Ill and is preferably provided adjacent to its forward gripping end with forwardly' extending side tongues I6 and a slightly upturned gripping edge ll between these tongues, the edge H to engage the under surface of the dish lip a. inwardly of rib a, and the side extensions I6 to extend into contact with the outer surface of the dish adjacent to its lip in order to thus cooperate with the forwardly extending and cutaway portions of the rigid jaw flanges in steadying the implement in use.

Intermediate its ends the movable jaw has opposing upstanding ears l8 which are apertured for movable pivoting upon a cross rod lBwhose extremities are preferably riveted in connection with the side flanges of the rigid jaw ID, in this way completing a horizontal pivot for the movable jaw upon which the latter is vertically tiltable at its forward portion into and out of direct clamping engagement with the dish lip a. Rearwardly of its pivot thus formed, the movable jaw is provided at one side with an upstanding wedge flange having an inclined edge 20*, and it isthrough this means that the movements of the movable jaw are controlled from a lever member 2|.

The lever member 2| is pivoted intermediate its ends to the handle 13' by a vertical pivot 2H, for lateral swinging movement beneath and against the handle I3 and is provided at its inner end with a flat extension 22 and at one side of this extension with a reverting side flange 22 which forms a wedge member and coacts With the wedge flange of the movable jaw, the extension 2| projecting into the space between the flanges of the rigid jaw and acting as a stop to limit lateral swinging of the member 20 toward opening position out of line with the handle l3.

It will be noted that the lever 2| is not only substantially coextensive with the handle [3 but is contoured orshaped to conform to' that of the handle since inthe effective position of the parts with the movable jaw wedged in its clamphand by placing a finger on ing position, the lever 20 is alined with the handle l3 throughout the length of these parts and thus acts to lend strength and rigidity to the handle when the latter is used to transport the dish from place to place. This effect may be and preferably is increased by stamping both the handle l3 and the lever 2| into the concavoconvex form shown.

At its free end the lever 2! is preferably provided with an apertured projection 23 for hanging the implement in disuse upon a nail, hook or the like, and this projection also forms a finger piece when shifting the lever to release position.

In applying the implement in use it is obvious that by grasping the extension 23 of the lever 2| with a finger and applying the thumb to the upstanding wing M of the handle I3, the lever 20 may be shifted on its pivot laterally to the inclined, released position shown in Fig. 2, thus moving the wedge 22 of the lever laterally free of the wedge flange 20 of the movable jaw. The device is then placed in the position of use as shown in Fig. 1 and by grasping the handle and at the same time shifting the lever to again position the same in alinement and lengthwise engagement with the handle the coacting wedge members 20 and 22 just referred to force the clamping end of the movable jaw upwardly into effective clamping position.

There is preferably sufiicient friction between the lever 2| and the handle l3 to prevent accidental swinging movement of the lever and hence when the implement is once engaged in use as above described, with the wedge of the lever beneath the wedge flange of the movable jaw, the parts will be retained in this position and the implement as a whole thus firmly held in connection with the dish A until purposely removed by again manipulating the implement in the manner above described preparatory to its use.

It is thus obvious the implement is substantially locked in the eifective position and that for its release it requires the use of but one the apertured extension of lever 2i and the thumb against the thumb piece M. In' this way lever 21 may be readily shifted laterally on its vertical pivot to release. the implement.

It is also obvious that, in addition to strengthening the handle l3 and its companion part or lever 2|, the stamping of these partsin the concavo-convex shape above mentioned adapts the same to form between them an air enclosing space tending to cool the handle in use. Fur.- ther, it will be noted from Figure 3 in particular, the edge ll of the movable jaw, in the clamped position, engages the dish lip d, and the inner edge of the rib a, so that the forward cutaway edges l2 of the rigid jaw are wedged in. engagement with the surface of the dish and steadiness of the implement in use is insured. This wedging action, added to. the friction between the engaged wedge members 20 and 22 and the frictional contact of lever 2| with handle l3, additionally insures against slipping of the handle inuse as well as its accidental release.

What is claimed is:

1. An implement of the character described comprising a handle, a rigid jaw formed at one end of the handle, consisting of an approximate= ly flat plate having side flanges, the forward end of which flanges are cut away and extended bel w the rqnt ed e o the nlata. a movable jaw beneath the stationary jaw, having upstanding side ears intermediate its ends in pivotal connection with the said side flanges and having its portion rearwardly beyond the pivot provided with a wedge flange at one side, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the handle and extending for the full length of the latter for swinging movement horizontally parallel to the plane of the handle, the inner end of said lever having an extension between the rear portions of the flanges of the rigid jaw and having a wedge member at one side cooperating with the wedge flange of the movable jaw to control vertical swinging movement of the movable jaw by horizontal swinging movement of said lever.

2. An implement of the character described comprising a-handle having a rigid jaw at one end and an upstanding thumb piece at its opposite end, said rigid jaw having depending side flanges, a movable jaw beneath the rigid jaw and between said side flanges, having portions intermediate the ends thereof in horizontal pivotal connection with the side flanges constraining the movable jaw to vertical swinging movements with respect to the rigid jaw, a wedge member carried by the movable jaw rearwardly beyond its pivot and at one side thereof, a lever extending along and against the handle for the full length of the latter and pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said handle to swing in a parallel horizontal plane with respect to the handle, said lever having an extension at its inner end projecting between the flanges of the rigid jaw, and a wedge member cooperating with the wedge member of the movable jaw and said lever having an extension at its 'i opposite end forming a finger piece and projecting beyond the corresponding free end of the handle.

3. An implement of the character described comprising a handle portion having a rigid jaw at one end thereof, a movable jaw having a horizontal pivotal connection with the rigid jaw, constraining the said movable jaw to vertical swinging movements toward and away from the rigid jaw, a lever extending along and flatwise against the handle and intermediately pivoted to said handle to swing horizontally into and out of alinement with the handle, the inner end of said lever extending between the rigid jaw and the movable jaw, and means carried by said inner end of the lever and the rear end of the movable jaw and cooperating to shift the jaw vertically when the lever is swung horizontally.

4. An implement of the character described comprising a handle, a rigid jaw carried by the handle, a movable jaw having a horizontal pivotal connection intermediate its ends with the rigid jaw, constraining the movable jaw to vertical swinging movements toward and away from the rigid jaw, and a lever extending along the full length of the handle portion and flatwise thereagainst in alinement therewith when the parts are in clamped position, said lever being intermediately pivoted to the handle to swing in a horizontal plane with respect thereto, and 00- operating wedging means at the inner end of the lever and the rear end of the movable jaw for shifting the latter on its pivot when the leverls swung horizontally.

5. An implement of the nature described, comprising a handle having at one end a rigid engaging jaw, a movable jaw having a horizontal pivot in connection with the rigid jaw for direct movement verticallywithv respect to. the rigid jaw into and out of clamping position, and a lever exert ng a am and. wedeineaction on themovms able jaw and having a pivotal connection with the handle and swinging movement thereon at right angles to that of the movable jaw, said lever and said handle being approximately coextensive and lying closely in contact with one another in the clamped position to thus brace the handle and form sustantially a one-piece grip.

6. An implement of the nature described, comprising a handle having at one end a rigid engaging jaw, a movable jaw having a horizontal pivot in connection with the rigid jaw for direct movement vertically with respect to the rigid jaw into and out of clamping position, and also having a laterally inclined wedge face, and a laterally swingable lever having a wedge member at one end to ride the wedge face of the movable jaw, said lever having a vertical pivot in connection with the handle and being arranged to project coextensive with and along the handle in the clamped position of the parts whereby to coact with and brace the handle.

7. An implement of the nature described, comprising a handle having at one end a rigid engaging jaw, a movable jaw having a horizontal pivot in connection with the rigid jaw for direct movement vertically with respect to the rigid jaw into and out of clamping position, and a lever swingable at right angles to the movement of, and actuating, the movable jaw and having a pivotal connection with the handle, said lever and said handle being approximately coextensive and lying-closely in contact with one another in the clamped position and said handle and lever being of concavo-convex form with adjacent concave faces forming, in the clamped position, an air enclosing hollow one-piece grip.

8.,A detachable holder for a dish of the type having a radial lip provided upon its lower surface with a rib, said holder consisting of a rigid jaw for positioning on said rib having depending side portions to engage the dish at laterally spaced points, a movable jaw pivoted to the rigid jaw and shiftable to engage the lower surface of the lip and the inner edge of said rib to clamp the lip and at the same time wedge the side portions of the rigid jaw against the dish, said rigid jaw having an extending handle portion, and a lever pivoted to the handle at right angles to the plane of movement of the movable jaw, said lever and said movable jaw having relatively engaging portions for shifting the jaw into clamped position by swinging movement of the lever.

HARRY P. SERIO. 

